D. Orlando Ledbetter, of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, reports Atlanta Falcons PK Zac Derr (groin) suffered a groin injury and was waived from the team. "I have a small tear in my groin," Derr said before he was waived. "(It's the) tendon that connects the groin to the bone." Derr had missed the past four practices.

D. Orlando Ledbetter, of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, reports Atlanta Falcons PK Zac Derr will get a second chance at an NFL career during the Falcons' training camp. Derr last practiced with an NFL team in 2002 with the Dallas Cowboys, where he was released before ever playing in a game. Derr finds himself in a competition with PK Tony Yelk for the team's place kicker job. Derr was studying at the Trinity Evangelical Divinity School when assistant special teams coach Steve Hoffman called him. Hoffman recalled, " I said, 'Can you get yourself in shape and see how your kicking is?' I sent him some footballs, and he kicked for about a month. He called me and said, 'I'm ready to show you what I can do.'" His April workout with the team impressed special teams coach Joe DeCamillis, who liked how he got the ball up and his leg strength.

Charles Odum, of the Associated Press, reports Atlanta Falcons head coach Jim Mora is a little concerned about the team's place kicker situation. "We don't have a guy on our roster besides our punter who has actually put a ball through the uprights," Mora said. "We don't have a guy who's even made an extra point." The only two kickers on the roster for Thursday's opening day of training camp July 27, at Flowery Branch are rookie PK Tony Yelk of Iowa State and PK Zac Derr. The team may add a veteran kicker during training camp. The Falcons have a new kicking coach, Steve Hoffman. "That's a tremendous concern for me at this point," Mora said, "but I'm also very confident by the time we tee it up we'll be OK there." Many fans are surprised the team did not re-sign PK Todd Peterson. Peterson was successful on his first 18 attempts, but due to his limited range he had only four attempts from 40 yards or longer.

Steve Wyche, of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, reports Atlanta Falcons general manager Rich McKay will be at training camp watching to see if either PK Tony Yelk or Zac Derr can develop into the team's full-time place kicker. McKay said he is concerned about using Yelk or Derr, neither have attempted a kick in an NFL game, in a game situation right now, but, he added that the Falcons want to develop a place kicker so they don't have to keep plugging that position every season. The team will not forsake potential victories in lieu of that philosophy, though, McKay said.

Steve Wyche, of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, reports it appears the Atlanta Falcons won't be bringing in any veteran field goal kickers until they are well into training camp. Sources say the Falcons feel they can groom either PK Zac Derr or PK Tony Yelk, although neither has ever kicked in an NFL game.

Steve Wyche, of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, reports Atlanta Falcons PK Zac Derr and PK Tony Yelk showed nothing to elicit confidence during the team's offseason workouts. The auditions for the place kicker job will likely continue throughout the preseason, with more and more veterans getting a shot at the job. Free agent PK Todd Peterson (Falcons) remains an option for the team.

D. Orlando Ledbetter, of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, reports the Atlanta Falcons plan to enter training camp with an untested kicker. PK Zac Derr and PK Tony Yelk are the only two place kickers on the team and will compete for the job. Special teams coach Joe DeCamillis said, "We'll let those two compete, fight it out and if we feel like we need to sign a veteran going into training camp or after training camp we will. But we want a young kicker to be able to make it just like we had with (punter) Michael Koenen last year."